Rehabilitation of CALABARZON Mangroves

Rehabilitation of CALABARZON Mangroves

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Field Operations Undersecretary Demetrio L. Ignacio (3rd from left), Assistant Secretary Marcial C. Amaro, Jr. (4th from left), DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) Director Henry A. Adornado (left) and DENR Region 4A CALABARZON Regional Director Reynulfo A. Juan (2nd from left, behind Ignacio) marvel at the poster presentation discussing the accomplishments in the rehabilitation of mangrove areas in Patnanungan in the Polillio Group of Islands and in Tagkawayan, Quezon as part of the ERDB-supervised Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project (MBFDP). Juan discussed the merits of the poster design on the importance of mangroves specifically in the rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-prone coastal areas including Quezon and Batangas in Region 4A-CALABARZON. Although belatedly included as one of the areas of the MBFDP, the DENR Calabarzon head said  that his group has started rehabilitating 1,000 hectares in the two Calabarzon provinces under the MBFDP. This, in addition to other mangrove rehabilitation efforts done under the National Greening Program. He said a rehabilitated and sustainably managed mangrove forests is something to be glad about as this "serves as life support to coastal communities and mitigation measure to the adverse impact of climate change." Ignacio revealed that this (MBFDP) is the biggest, most important project of the DENR, so far, since, he said, "Because of this (project), we come to meet the president (President Benigno S. Aquino III) face to face and report to him on developments monthly." DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje ordered a massive mangrove tree planting and rehabilitation particularly in areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013 in recognition of the mangrove forests' serving as buffer against typhoons and storm surges. The Aquino administration allotted P1 Billion for the MBFDP for the rehabilitation of 50,000 hectares of mangrove and beach forest across the country.